Citadella description and photos - Italy: Gaeta (Topic)

Citadella description and photos - Italy: Gaeta. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The title in English is Citadella.

Photo & Description

The Citadel, also known as Porta di Carlo V, is one of Gaeta's tourist attractions. In 1516, after the death of King Ferdinand of Aragon, the Spanish throne was inherited by his grandson, Charles of Austria, who went down in history as Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.

Continuing the fortification of Gaeta, begun by his grandfather, Charles V recruited the best military architects of his time from 1516 to 1538 to build a high wall along the rugged coast of Gaetan Bay. The building was named the Citadel. The entrance to it is a large hall located between two doors - one is oriented to the east, the other to the south. For centuries, this complex, also known as Porta di Carlo V, was the only land access to the fortified city. For this reason, it was also called Porta Terra.

In 1660, the Spanish field marshal Don Alonso de Monrroy, who ruled in Gaeta, ordered the construction of a chapel dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Citadel hall. It is believed that he did this in gratitude for the happy escape from death. For some time, the chapel kept an icon of Our Lady of Sorrows, which the Spaniards especially revered and which they call Santa Maria de la Soledad. Monrroy, in addition to building the chapel at his own expense, also obtained permission from Rome to hold a weekly Sunday Mass. In 1668, he allocated 200 ducats for the expansion of the chapel and the acquisition of sacred vessels. Monrroy also wanted Gaeta to have the office of a chaplain, who was supposed to be of Spanish or Spanish descent.

Monrroy died in the same year 1668 at the age of 57 and was buried under the church of San Francesco. And when in 1809 the church was destroyed, a stone slab was found over the grave of the general.

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Topic: Citadella description and photos - Italy: Gaeta.